Weight Equipment & Gym Accessories ~ Ideal for building strength
Weight equipment & gym exercise accessories
Strength exercise training allows you to build muscle & gain strength rapidly. However, contrary to what many of us believe, strength exercise training is not just for those looking to claim next years Mr Universe title. Strength training using dedicated weight equipment is great exercise for men & women of all shapes, sizes & ages. There are real health benefits to using weight equipment too;
- Increases your metabolism & enhances sport performance
- Strengthens bones & helps prevent sports injuries
- Improves diet (high protein, low fat, calorie controlled)
- Tailored exercises are effective for losing weight (& help keep if off)
At Fitness Options we sell a complete & full range of weight equipment including home fitness equipment for your home gym, such as dumbbells, barbells, cast discs, weight benches, sit-up boards & hand grips, through to the commercial smiths machines & cages you would see at your local gym.
We also sell weight-training supplements such as slimming products, weight gain products, protein powders, energy drinks & creatine all designed to assist with your diet requirements.
Are you new to using weight equipment? Do you want to speak to a weight training expert? Call us FREE on 0800 4580 081
Weight equipment ~ free weights, cast discs & dumbbells
A big advantage of strength training with free weights is there is no limit to the amount of weight you can exercise with - just keep adding heavier or more discs to your dumbbell or barbell - whereas multi gyms have a finite amount of weight you can safely exercise with. Another advantage is that your not confined to the movements that for example, a smith machine restricts you to. You can adopt any exercise position with your weight equipment you feel comfortable with.
When using free weights you have to balance the barbell & dumbbells. This engages your stabilizing muscles, working more muscle groups than using a multi gym or a single station machine.
Free weights are a very cost effective way to start building up a range of home fitness equipment & if looked after correctly can last you a lifetime.
Exercising with free weights is highly effective as part of a weight loss exercise programme. Muscle is very effective at burning calories & coupled with a high protein/low fat diet can also keep your weight down.
Exercise training with free weights offer long-term health benefits too - especially for older people. Weight training can also help prevent diseases like osteoporosis, diabetes, & arthritis. Exercise training with free weights is included in rehabilitation program after a stroke or heart attack.
When using free weights it is always best to train with a partner. Your partner or spotter is not only there to protect you if you loose control of the weights but can encourage you to push yourself that little further.
Weight equipment ~ smiths machines
Smith machines are pieces of strength weight equipment for people who are use to weight training or serious weight lifters. Using a smiths machine, you may safely push your physical strength to it's upper limits - essential for building muscle mass - as the barbell is fixed within steel rails, with safety stops to prevent injury if you lose control of the weight.
Smith machines lend themselves well to strength training as part of your home gym as you can train unsupervised - but be aware of their size, as smith machines are large pieces of weight equipment.
Smith machines are not entry-level pieces of fitness equipment because of their dedication to strength training & initial purchase price. You also need to buy the weights separately so ensure you include this into your budget when purchasing a smiths machine. Also, when buying a smith machine make sure that the fixed barbell runs smoothly up and down the steel rails. Smith machines with linear bearings are best.
A Smith machine can take your weight training to a different level and many now come with options such as Lat Pulldown and Pec Dec attachments.
Weight equipment ~ hack squats/leg press
Hack squats are pieces of weight equipment that are intended for serious weight trainers. They are designed to work the legs.
In the hack squat mode you stand upright and squat at an angle with you back supported against a pad, protecting you back much more so than squatting with free weights. In the leg press mode you lye on your back and push the weight away from you. Again your back is supported.
Hack squat/leg press fitness machines are ideal for safe and serious muscle building of the legs. They are quite large pieces of fitness equipment & additional weight training discs are required but there are few machines that work the legs better.
Weight equipment ~ gym accessories
Fitness benches ~ Ideal for working out with dumbbells & barbells. These pieces of weight equipment feature adjustable backrests that move through 90 degrees to flat and down into incline positions. If the bench has adjustable barbell rests (if not you can still purchase stand alone squat racks) it will enable you to exercise with barbells no matter what position the backrest is in. Work out your legs with leg extension attachments & your biceps with curl attachments.
Fitness benches make very versatile pieces weight equipment & are ideal for your home gym & your budget.
Browse through our range of fitness benches.
Abdominal benches ~ A whole range of fitness exercises can be accomplished on these versatile pieces of fitness equipment.
Weight equipment accessories ~ For serious weight lifters, we offer a range of;
- Weight lifting belts
- Weight training and fitness gloves
- Barbell pads
- Hand squeezers & grips
- Diet & muscle building supplements
Browse through our range of weight equipment accessories.
Are you new to free weights, smith machines & hack squats? Do you want to speak to a weight equipment expert? Call us FREE on 0800 4580 081
Read more about weight equipment, strength exercising & further fitness tips in the Fitness Options blog
